Diane Black's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Diane Black has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests. Historically, candidates have failed to complete our test due to the advice they receive from their parties and advisors and out of fear of negative attack ads. Diane Black is still welcome to submit the test at any time.

Issue Positions

In response to the increasing unwillingness of candidates to answer issue questions, Project Vote Smart has researched Presidential and Congressional candidates' public records to determine candidates' likely responses on certain key issues. These issue positions, from the year 2016, are provided below as a courtesy to voters.

Pro-life

Abortion: Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?

Vote Smart's Research

"I am a proud member of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus and maintain a 100% pro-life voting record from National Right to Life.”http://black.house.gov/issue/abortion (black.house.gov)

"By condoning the destruction of unborn life that could otherwise live outside the womb, the United States tragically fails to meet this most fundamental human rights standard. Basic decency and human compassion demands that something has to change.” http://black.house.gov/press-release/rep-black-leads-fight-pass-pain-capable-legislation-house (black.house.gov)

No

Budget: In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?

Vote Smart's Research

"As a Member of the Ways and Means Committee, I am proud to take their message with me to Washington as we continue to work towards a fairer, flatter, and simpler tax code." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/974953/rep-black-tax-day-is-a-reminder-of-the-need-for-comprehensive-tax-reform#.VZKsOhtVhHw (votesmart.org)

"Our efforts led former Chairman Dave Camp to introduce a draft proposal last year outlining our vision for a fairer, flatter, and simpler tax code.” http://black.house.gov/issue/taxes (black.house.gov)

No

Economy: Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Vote Smart's Research

"Black is also a member of the House Budget Committee, and a co-author of the 2014 Path to Prosperity budget, which balances the federal budget within ten years, reduces federal spending by $4.6 trillion, saves Medicare for future generations and promotes private sector economic growth.” http://black.house.gov/about-me/full-biography (black.house.gov)

"Congress must stand in the gap and work to rein in spending, cut waste, and tackle the unsustainable growth of key entitlement programs that pose our government’s greatest fiscal challenge.” http://black.house.gov/issue/spending-cuts-and-debt (black.house.gov)

Yes

Economy: Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?

Vote Smart's Research

"One of my top priorities in Congress is to lower the tax burden on Americans and ensure that small businesses have the capital needed to grow and create jobs.” http://black.house.gov/issue/taxes (black.house.gov)

"All we have to do is bring the tax rate down and we will see people moving back into the country and bring spending back to our country.” http://votesmart.org/public-statement/975149/portland-leader-congressman-black-talks-obamacare-and-taxes#.VZKrxBtVhHw (votesmart.org)

No

Education: Do you generally support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?

Vote Smart's Research

"Among Diane's key decisions included in the organization's score were her votes to BAN President Obama from forcing states into participation in Common Core (H.R. 5) and her vote to require the White House to submit a balanced budget to Congress (H.R. 444).” http://www.votedianeblack.com/index.php/news/newsletter?start=4 (www.votedianeblack.com)

"I am a proud supporter of the Student Success Act—House-passed legislation to overhaul the 'No Child Left Behind' program and protect local control in education.” http://black.house.gov/issue/education (black.house.gov)

Yes

Energy: Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?

Vote Smart's Research

"Additionally, I am a proud supporter of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would carry an estimated 830,000 barrels of oil into the United States each day from our allied Canadian neighbor and create approximately 42,000 jobs.” http://black.house.gov/issue/energy (black.house.gov)

"Mr. Speaker, in the President's State of the Union
Address he declared the need for ``21st century infrastructure.'' With
today's legislation to complete the Keystone XL pipeline, we are
offering him an infrastructure bill that would create jobs and promote
energy security.” http://votesmart.org/public-statement/951240/keystone-xl-pipeline#.VZKwwBtVhHw (votesmart.org)

Yes

Energy: Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?

Vote Smart's Research

" Today Congressman Diane Black (R-TN-06) reintroduced H.R. 866, the Federal Land Freedom Act (FLFA) of 2015. […] The Federal Land Freedom Act empowers states to establish programs to lease, permit, and regulate the development of all forms of energy resources on federal lands, including renewables.” http://black.house.gov/press-release/black-introduces-legislation-promote-energy-security-expand-states%E2%80%99-rights (black.house.gov)

"We need an all-of-the-above approach to energy, which includes more American produced oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear power, along with alternative sources that show a return on our investment.” http://black.house.gov/issue/energy (black.house.gov)

No

Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?

Vote Smart's Research

"In short, Madame Administrator, we believe this carbon dioxide regulation – whose implementation is legally questionable at best – would do untold harm to the American people and our economy for decades to come.” http://jeffduncan.house.gov/sites/jeffduncan.house.gov/files/Duncan%20Carbon%20Emission%20Letter%20to%20EPA.pdf (jeffduncan.house.gov)

"Last Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled 645 pages of burdensome rules on carbon emissions as part of President Barack Obama’s plan to push global warming — not jobs and the economy — to the forefront of his agenda.” http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/sumner/2014/06/10/diane-black-new-epa-rules-threaten-sumner-county-jobs/10288583 (www.tennessean.com)

"Our individual right to keep and bear arms is fundamental to America and a right guaranteed by our Constitution. I will always fight to protect our Second Amendment rights from those who would seek to weaken them.” http://www.votedianeblack.com/index.php/on-the-issues/second-amendment (www.votedianeblack.com)

Yes

Health Care: Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?

Vote Smart's Research

"hat is why our budget agreement repeals Obamacare in full, allowing us to start over with real reforms that put patients and their doctors in charge of health care decisions – not Washington bureaucrats.” http://black.house.gov/press-release/rep-black-speaks-opening-meeting-budget-conference-committee (black.house.gov)

"Importantly for me as a nurse, this budget would also fully repeal Obamacare—giving us an opportunity to start over on health care reforms that put patients and their doctors in charge, not Washington bureaucrats.” http://black.house.gov/press-release/rep-black-speaks-house-republicans%E2%80%99-balanced-budget-repeals-obamacare (black.house.gov)

Yes

Immigration: Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?

Vote Smart's Research

"To that end, the House acted this month by passing measures to ramp up border security efforts — including funding National Guard troops along our border — and to expedite the return of these undocumented children to their home countries. Our bill also freezes the Obama administration’s Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals — a government program that uses prosecutorial discretion to let select illegal immigrants obtain deportation deferrals and work authorizations.” http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2014/08/23/border-crisis-demands-action-washington/14463005/ (www.tennessean.com)

"Any immigration reform legislation that earns my vote must send a clear message that the only path to citizenship is through legal means.” http://black.house.gov/issue/immigration (black.house.gov)

No

Marriage: Do you support same-sex marriage?

Vote Smart's Research

"Diane strongly opposes the Supreme Court's recent decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and supported a House resolution demanding that DOMA be upheld in all instances.” http://www.votedianeblack.com/index.php/family-values (www.votedianeblack.com)

"The law of the land is the federal government defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Unfortunately, the Department of Defense seems intent on circumventing this law.” http://votesmart.org/public-statement/650393/letter-to-majority-leader-harry-reid-and-senate-minority-leader-mitch-mcconnell#.VZKvkBtVhHw (votesmart.org)

Yes

National Security: Do you support increased American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support?

Vote Smart's Research

"There are groups all over the world who wish to destroy the freedoms we enjoy and the values that make America great. As a result we must continue to be an example to other countries of freedom and prosperity. In order to do this, we must make sure that our commanders on the ground are not hindered from achieving our objective by arbitrary timelines.” http://votedianeblack.com/national-security (votedianeblack.com)

"At a time when our nation is at war, we need federal leaders who are committed to winning this global war on terror. I am committed to a foreign policy that fights and defeats the terrorists where they live and train before they can come to our nation to kill innocent Americans. We need to support our military with the tools, equipment, and strategy that it takes to defeat terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq, and wherever else they may be training and plotting against our nation.” http://votesmart.org/public-statement/534479/#.VZK20BtVhHx (votesmart.org)

Unknown Position

Social Security: Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?

Vote Smart's Research

"However, we cannot lose sight of the end goal. Congress must work to make Social Security stronger and sustainable, instead of seeking short-term gratification at the expense of the program.” http://votesmart.org/public-statement/657315/#.VZK3FBtVhHw (votesmart.org)

Key

Official Position: Candidate had the Political Courage to address this issue directly.

Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue directly, but Project Vote Smart inferred this issue position based on the candidate's public statements, voting record, and evaluations from special interest groups.

Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue.

Project Vote Smart's Research: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position.

Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as the candidate has submitted it. Project Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Tennessee State Legislative Election 2002 National Political Awareness Test

This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.

The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.

In a total of seventy-five (75) words or less, please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.